1) Danny is a former world amateur No.1.
The Sheffield lad rose to the top of the amateur game in 2008 and played in the Walker Cup in 2007, the same year he won the English Amateur Championship.
2) He pushed Rory all the way in the 2015 Race to Dubai
Eight years after beating Rory McIlroy in the Amateur Championship, Danny pushed Rory all the way over a thrilling season on the 2015 Race to Dubai. The new Masters Champion won the first event of the season, the Nedbank Golf Challenge, before pipping his good friend Matt Fitzpatrick to the Omega European Masters title in Switzerland. Heading into the season finale at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, McIlroy led by just 1,613 points over Willett in the Race to Dubai standings. Rory won the event to take the Race to Dubai accolades, but Danny had made his intentions for the future clear with a season that yielded two wins and seven other top tens.
3) Son of a preacher man…
Willett is the son of a Church of England vicar — the Reverend Steve Willett, whose parish church is in Sheffield — and a Swedish maths teacher, Elisabet, who works at a comprehensive school in Barnsley. Danny has often spoke about his dad in glowing terms, saying, “The best psychologist I know is my dad, because what he says is so grounded, and it's about whether you're doing right or wrong. When you're away from golf you need that balance, and he provides it." He is the third of four sons produced by Steve and Elisabet, and was introduced to golf by his two older brothers.
4) He was contemplating missing the 80th Masters Tournament
Only last month Danny said he would not attend the 80th Masters Tournament if it conflicted with the birth of his first child. Thankfully his wife Nicole, whose due date was Masters Sunday, welcomed Zachariah James Willett to the world early (on March 29) and Danny was able to travel to Georgia to pick up his Green Jacket and become the first European Masters Champion in 17 years.
5) He practised with Bernard Langer on Tuesday
Danny may have been a little under-prepared for Augusta after baby Zach’s arrival the week before the tournament, but he picked a perfect practice partner on Tuesday in the form of the great Bernhard Langer. The German legend is known for his pathologically meticulous nature and, before last week, had played 110 competitive rounds at Augusta compared to Danny’s four. You would learn more playing one round with Langer at Augusta than you would if you went round 100 times on your own.
6) He attended an American university
Danny may well will be donning European blue come September for The Ryder Cup, but he spent part of his golfing education at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, where he became the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, and won many honours.
7) He has now won five times on The European Tour, but where was his breakthrough win?
After a solid first full season on The European Tour, which saw Danny finish 58th in the 2009 Race to Dubai, his first victory came a few years later at the 2012 BMW International Open. It did not come easily though as Willett had to battle Marcus Fraser all the way for the honour, before prevailing on the fourth hole of a play-off.
A magical chip from the rough behind the green set up a tap-in par to seal the win. Fast forward four years and a magical chip at the 17th hole at Augusta National played a huge part in Willett’s Masters triumph.
8) His Official World Golf Ranking was 102nd just 12 months ago. Now it reads nine.
Only a year ago, Danny was ranked outside of the top 100 players in the world. Today, the Yorkshireman is inside the top ten. Danny has always believed in himself, and those who follow The European Tour have seen why over the past few years as he has charged to the top of golf’s world order.
